Dracaena plant named ‘Song of Costa Rica’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Dracaena  plant named ‘Song of Costa Rica’ that is characterized by small yellow and light green leaves with dark green margins, a compact habit, short internodes and strong stems.

Botanical classification: Dracaena reflexa lam.

Variety denomination: ‘Song of Costa Rica’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dracaenaplant botanically known as Dracaena reflexa lam. and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Song of Costa Rica’.

The new cultivar was discovered in 2001 in an outdoor nursery in acultivated area of Rio Quarto, Costa Rica. ‘SONG OF COSTA RICA’ wasdiscovered as a naturally occurring branch mutation of Dracaena reflexalam. ‘Song of Jamaica’ (not patented).

Asexual reproduction by terminal cuttings of the new cultivar ‘Song ofCosta Rica’ was first taken in 2001 in Rio Quarto, Costa Rica.

Since that time, under careful observation, the unique characteristicsof the new cultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newDracaena cultivar ‘Song of Costa Rica’. These traits in combinationdistinguish ‘Song of Costa Rica’ as a new and distinct cultivar.

-   -   1. Dracaena ‘Song of Costa Rica’ exhibits small yellow and light        green leaves with dark green margins.    -   2. Dracaena ‘Song of Costa Rica’ exhibits a compact habit.    -   3. Dracaena ‘Song of Costa Rica’ exhibits short iinternodes.    -   4. Dracaena ‘Song of Costa Rica’ exhibits strong stems.

The closest comparison cultivar is the parent plant ‘Song of Jamaica’.‘Song of Costa Rica’ is distinguishable from ‘Song of Jamaica’ by thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Song of Costa Rica’ has smaller leaves.    -   2. ‘Song of Costa Rica’ has shorter internodes.    -   3. ‘Song of Costa Rica’ has stronger stems.

‘Song of Costa Rica’ is distinguishable from typical plants of thespecies Dracaena reflexa lam. by the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Song of Costa Rica’ has smaller leaves.    -   2. ‘Song of Costa Rica’ has shorter internodes.    -   3. ‘Song of Costa Rica’ has stronger stems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits ofDracaena ‘Song of Costa Rica’.

The plant in the photograph shows an overall view of a 7 month oldplant.

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance,it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Dracaena cultivarnamed ‘Song of Costa Rica’. Data was collected in Boskoop, TheNetherlands from plants grown in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands. Thetime of year was winter. The plants were 7 month old greenhouse grownplants in 15 cm diameter containers. The temperature ranged from 24 to34° Centigrade. The light level was natural outdoor light and there wereno photoperiodic treatments or growth retardants used. Colordeterminations are in accordance with The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used. The growing requirements are similarto the species. ‘Song of Costa Rica’ has not been tested under allpossible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed withvariations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however,without any variance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Dracaena reflexa lam. ‘Song of Costa    Rica’.-   Parentage: ‘Song of Costa Rica’ was discovered as a naturally    occurring branch mutation of Dracaena reflexa lam. ‘Song of    Jamaica’.-   Annual or Perennial: Perennial.-   Use: Ornamental.-   Vigor: Moderate.-   Growth habit: Upright.-   Plant shape: Columnar.-   Suitable container size: 15 cm. container.-   Height: Average 71.6 cm. in height.-   Width: Average 32.1 cm. in width.-   Heat tolerance: Tolerant to 40 degrees Centigrade.-   Winter hardiness: USDA Zone 10.-   Growth rate: Approximately 4 cm. per month.-   Propagation: Terminal cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots in summer: Approximately 21 days to produce    roots on an initial cutting.-   Time to initiate roots in winter: Approximately 23 days to produce    roots on an initial cutting.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner in summer: Approximately    30 days.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner in winter: Approximately    35 days.-   Crop Time: Approximately 7 months to produce a finished plant from a    rooted cutting.-   Root system: Fine and fibrous.-   Stem:    -   -   Stem strength.—Very strong.        -   Stem color.—136B and 137A; older stem 199D.        -   Stem pubescence.—Absent.        -   Internode length.—Average 1.0 cm.        -   Stem shape.—Round.        -   Stem surface.—Smooth.-   Foliage:    -   -   Texture.—Smooth, glossy, slightly leathery.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Quantity of leaves.—Average 67.        -   Leaf shape.—Lorate.        -   Leaf apex.—Apiculate.        -   Leaf base.—Sheathing.        -   Leaf length.—Average 17.9 cm. in length.        -   Leaf width.—Average 2.3 cm. in width.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire.        -   Vein pattern.—Parallel.        -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—143A with stripes 144B to            144C, margins 143A.        -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—Striped 143B and 144B to            144C, margins 138A.        -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—Striped in between 139A            and 147A and 144A, margins 139A and 147A.        -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—Center 144A, margins            147A.        -   Vein color.—As leaf blade.        -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.        -   Durability of foliage to stress.—High.-   Flower: Flowering has not been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: ‘Song of Costa Rica’ has not been    observed for disease or pest resistance.

1. A new and distinct variety of Dracaena plant named ‘Song of CostaRica’ as described and illustrated.